Defiant And Confident

Berlín, Feb. 7. - The reichstag was the gcené Monduy of a great gatherlng of Germán etatesmen and people, all of whom were drawn thither by the announoement that Bismarck wouKl speak on tHe military bilí. But wbat the man of blood and iion wou d say directly about the bill was only of secondary importauce. The real cause of the interest tnis time was the belief that the chancellor would elabórate on the relations of Germany with Russia and France apropos of the publication last week of the treaty belweer Germany and Austria. The existeuce of the treaty had long been knowu, but its provisions were a matter of more or less speeulatlon, and the publication at this timo was looked upon in many quarters as an intimation to Russia that she must stop massing troops on her western frontier, or fight. Prinoe Bismarck was graeted with immense enthusiasm all aloug the drive to the reichstag and deafenin clieers announced his appearanee on the floor of the Germán parliament. He opeued by stating that he would discuss the general Buropean situalion, whioh, he said, had changed rery little in the last year. He did not believé the Kussian newspapers, but be did absolutely believe the czar'a word. Coucentration of Russian troops appeared serious,butthere was no pretext for war. War with France would not involve war with Russia, but war with Russsia would eventual ly involve France. He believed that the conoentration of Russian troops meant that Russia intended to jnake her voice heard when next the powers conferred. He then reviewed the relations of Prussia with Russia siuce 18-18. Frequeatly, he said, they bad had a menaciug aspect, luit at all times the calmness and eouscienciousness displayed by the ministers on the Prusian side toward the threateniug position of Russian allairs - a position of which foreiga countries bad no idea - had succeeded in avarting mischief. "Hitherto, as üow," he continued, "we havo been constrained to au ;ment and organize our torces, so that in case of ueceseity we might stand forth a strong nation, making its power prevail by our strength, and so deïending its authority, its diguity and its possessious. " "The warlike tendenciesof Franco and Russia," the chaucellor declared, "drive us to an attitude of defense. The pike in Frauce and Russia compl us to become carp. Prussia has always been complaisant with Russia, doing her matiy services. I myself, when minister to Russia, successfully labored to keep amicable relatious. flowever, my friendly feelings for Russia have cooled. I say this in order to make quite clear the reason why we concluded an alliance with Austria. We were inclined to accede to the demands that Russia made upon us bef ore the last war in the east Russia then turned vainly to Austria. We were glad that the storm passed over our heads. ï liose who expeet to find a threat in the publication of the treaty of 1879 are mistaken. The treaty is an expression of the community of interests of the two contracting parties." "Austria is our natural ally in the dangers that threaten us from Russia and Franca, but tbere is no need to fear the hatred of Russia. No wars are waged from mere hatred, for otherwise France would have to be at war with Ilaly and the whole world. The strength we possess will reassure our public opinión and allay the nervousness of the bourse and the press. Our task uow is to strengthen this strength. It must not be eaid that others can place the same defensivo frontier forcé as we are abie to do. If we are attackeJ, then the furor Teutonieus will name. We hope to remaiu at peace with Russia, as with all other power :, but we do not run after anybody. Russia has no grpunds for complaint of Germauy's attitude on tbe B.il'iarian question." Prince Bismarck reiterated the confidence that Gorinany feit in lier army, and duclared that Ciermauy feared "oniy the G'Xl which makes us wish to t'oster peace. " Concerning the streugth and extenl of her military resources, the chancellor asserted thac Germany could place a niillion men upon each of her frontiers, irrespective of the reserves. Prince Bismarck oocupied an hour and forty minutes in the delivery df his speech. Once he became fatigued aud sat down, continuing his speech from his seat. After awhile, however, he aróse to his feet and finished his address with iucreased ammation, pai;sing now and then to sip a refreshing drink. Wben he said that in 1663 it was uue to the emperor and his advisers that a Russian war was avoided the applause began, and it was renewed with iucreasing vigor and enthusiasin when he declared that in case of necessity Gf rmany was equal to any emrgeney. The words "we don't run after anybody" wero received with a tremendous outburst of cheering. Dr. Frankensteiu moved the a loptiou of the landwehr bill en blcc, aud tbat in view of the polifical situation the loan bilí be nofc debated. The mot'ion wns supported by Hellborf, Behr, and Bonnigseu, wliereupon the loan bill was refenvd to the budget committee and the house proceoded to the seoond roading of the landwehr bill. Frankenstein moved thé adoplion of the bill en bloc, which niotion was seconded by Böiinigsen. Here Princa Bismarck said that the government highly csteemed the willingness of the house to meet its views, not ouly as proof of tlie confidence of the reiehstag, but be cause it materially contributed to strengthen the guarantees of peacs. The bill then passed to its sccond reoding amid cbeers. Prince Bismarek received a continuóos ovatiou while returning from the reiehstag palace to hii home.